Getting to Tahoe
The closest airport is the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), which is about 45 minutes from the lodging at Northstar. You can also fly into Sacramento International Airport (SMF), which is about two hours away.
We do not recommend that you fly into San Francisco or Oakland airports unless you are planning an extended Bay Area vacation. These airports are at least a four hour drive from Lake Tahoe, and subject to heavy and unpredictable weekend traffic.
Getting around Tahoe
To travel from your airport to the resort at Northstar, we recommend a rental car. The available airport shuttle options are limited and expensive.
For transportation to and from the wedding events on Friday and Saturday, a shuttle will be provided leaving from Northstar Village.
Activities in Tahoe
We love spending time around Lake Tahoe and we'd love for you to experience the area during your visit. Some things we recommend checking out:
Hiking:
- Donner Memorial State Park - fishing, hiking, and a historic monument to the pioneers who passed through the area.
- The Tahoe Rim Trail makes a full circle of the lake and has biking, hiking, and horseback riding.
- Hike the newly developed Martis Valley Trail near the lodging at Northstar.
- Just south of the West Shore Cafe is Sugar Pine Point State Park, the largest park in the area, featuring five marked trails.
Biking:
- The Flume Trail - one of the best places for mountain biking in the area.
- The Northstar Mountain Bike Park is open Friday through Sunday at this time of year.
- A paved bike trail runs along the Truckee River and beyond.
Golf:
- Ponderosa is the public course serving Truckee.
- Lahontan has 18-hole and 9-hole courses; contact KC or Brad to arrange a tee time.
- There are a number of other courses in North Lake to explore!
Out on the Water:
- The Tahoe Queen has daily cruises from Zephyr Cove. Call for details and schedules.
- There are rafting trips available down the Truckee River, though you should call for details since the rivers have been running very low.
- Kayak rentals are also available at Sugar Pine Point.
Take in the View:
- The Squaw Valley Tram takes you to an elevation of 8200 feet for panoramic views of the mountains.
- Drive the circumference of the lake - it's a 72-mile loop.
- Soar on a sailplane over beautiful Martis Valley
- Take a helicopter tour over the lake departing from Truckee-Tahoe airport
Explore and Learn:
- Take a self-guided walking tour of historic Truckee (pdf map).
- Tour beautiful Thunderbird Lodge on the east shore of Lake Tahoe.
- Have a picnic lunch at Sand Harbor near Incline Village
- Visit Tahoe City to eat, shop, and people-watch
- Stop by Kings Beach for fantastic lake views and to visit an impressive sculpture showing the depth and size of Lake Tahoe.
- Gamble at the Biltmore Tahoe, just over the state line, the Hyatt in Incline Village, or make a road trip to Reno where there are a number of casinos.
Other Areas to Visit
If you are planning on having an extended trip to the West Coast, here are some other nearby attractions and their drive time to Lake Tahoe:
Napa / Sonoma (wine country): 3 hours
Yosemite National Park: 3 hours
San Francisco: 3.5 hours
Los Angeles: 7.5 hours
Childcare
For those seeking childcare on Friday night, we suggest Neta's Nannies http://netasnannies.com/
They are Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and Background Checked, have done a fantastic job for other friends in Lake Tahoe.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns - we're happy to help you sort out a good plan for you and your family!